Wheezing in Children

The causes of wheezing in children are more than just one specific factor. Depending upon the cause, the wheezing in children symptoms and the treatment will differ. Let's look at each cause, its symptom and treatment, one at a time.

Acute Bronchitis

Causes: Acute bronchitis is a bronchial infection. In simple terms, it is an infection in the tubes that carry air to the lungs. This infection causes the tubes to produce thick mucus. This mucus affects the breathing. It also, often, causes cough along with the wheezing.

Symptoms: In case the wheezing in children is caused due to acute bronchitis, it will be preceded or accompanied by these symptoms.

So, if you notice these symptoms, you need to get in tough with a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment: So, if the symptoms resemble those of acute bronchitis, here are the treatments that you can attempt.

Rest

Fluids

Pain killers

Paracetamol

Steam inhalation

Heating pad

Hot water bottle

Antibiotics

Physiotherapy

Refrain from dairy products(milk increases sputum)

Avoid very cold or very hot water

Fresh air

However, before administering any treatment, I suggest you consult a doctor.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

Causes: It is an allergic reaction to fungi. It can also lead to asthma or a lung disease and resembles inflammatory asthma quite closely. It is a very rare disease.

Symptoms: Here are the symptoms of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis:

Wheezing

Low-grade fever

Coughing

Coughing up brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs

Asthma symptoms

Treatment: Treating allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis requires corticosteroids. However, it is extremely imperative before the drug is administered.

Anaphylaxis

Causes: Anaphylaxis is a very rare, potentially life-threatening reaction which is caused due to an allergy.

Symptoms: With anaphylaxis, the symptoms will be very suddenly visible.

Breathing difficulty

Edema

Swollen mouth

Swollen face

Wheezing

Treatment: Anaphylaxis can be fatal, as such the treatment needs to be done at the earliest. It would include hospitalization and probably an epinephrine shot. Consulting a doctor at the earliest is vital for this condition.

Asthma

Causes: Asthma is a chronic ongoing lung disease. It is marked by acute flare ups or attacks causing difficulty breathing. It includes shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness and wheezing.

Symptoms: Wheezing is the primary symptom of asthma. The other symptoms include the following.

Breathing difficulty

Shortness of breath after exertion

Persistent cough

Cough worse at night

Poor stamina

Treatment: There is no cure for asthma, as such. However, consult your doctor for all the precautions that one can take to keep the attacks at bay.

Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann Disease

Causes: It is a rare condition wherein inflammatory granular nodules form in various organs.

Symptoms: The following are the symptoms of this condition, other than wheezing.

Fatigue

Cough

Weight loss

Chest pain

Fever

Treatment: There are several forms of medication that can be taken after consultation and prescription by a doctor to treat Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease.

Bronchiectasis or Bronchiolitis

Causes: Both the conditions are a little different from each other. Bronchiectasis is caused by chronic bronchiole dilation, secretions and blockages. Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles.

Symptoms: Here are the symptoms other than wheezing that you need to look out for.

Bad breath

Paroxysmal coughing

Coughing foul-smelling sputum

Coughing green or yellow sputum

Recurrent respiratory infections

Difficulty breathing

Mild fever

Treatment: Both these conditions requires serious medication, rest and consultation by a doctor. Off the counter medicines may be available, however, it is recommended to take them as prescribed by a doctor in order to avoid allergic reactions to flare up.

Pneumonia

Causes: Pneumonia is a condition caused due to viruses, bacteria or fungi entering the lungs.

Symptoms: Other than wheezing, here are few of the symptoms for pneumonia.

High fever in children

Chills

Chest pain while breathing

Dry cough (in early stages)

Productive cough (in later stages)

Treatment: Here are the possible treatments that a doctor would consider for pneumonia. However, none of these can be self administered.

Antibiotics

Intravenous antibiotics

Hospitalization

Oxygen

Pain relief

Heart Failure

Causes: Heart failure is a condition wherein the heart rate suddenly slows leading to cardiac arrest. This is a mostly, a fatal condition. However, it can be treated.

Symptoms: Heart failure or heart attack will occur suddenly and will have these symptoms, other than wheezing.

Breathless with exertion

Breathlessness

Fatigue

Tiredness

Weakness

Treatment: Heart failure needs immediate medical attention. Certain medicines can be administered by medical professionals only, to bring the heart rate back to normal. If the patient coughs, the heart beats can get a boost too.

Tuberculosis

Causes: Tuberculosis or (TB) is a bacterium caused lung disease. Not always do the symptoms of TB show. Which means that there is often a possibility that a person may be a carrier of the disease, without any symptoms.

Symptoms: Wheezing being a tell tale symptom, following are the symptoms that may be seen if a person is suffering from TB.

Fever

Chills

Night sweats

Flu-like symptoms

Loss of appetite

weakness

Fatigue

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Persistent cough

Chest pain

Coughing up bloody sputum

Shortness of breath

Breathing difficulty

Recurring bouts of fever

Weight loss

Progressive shortness of breath

Urine discoloration

Cloudy urine

Reddish urine

Treatment: Tuberculosis requires medication along with therapy to be treated. Hence, it requires contacting and consulting a doctor at the earliest.

Wheezing is a common symptom which can be quite worrisome to your baby. Consult a health care professional immediately to diagnose the cause.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.